In 2013 and 2014 health centers in Illinois began a process to determine if there was both the willingness and the business case for formally collaborating under a new entity to engage proactively with payer. The result of this effort led to mutual agreement among 23 health centers that this type of effort could help strengthen the overall negotiating position for health centers. To date, these groups have agreed to move forward with the development of a new limited liability corporation (LLC) that will begin to provide general payer contracting support to the participating health centers. Over time, it is envisioned that this entity will take additional steps to implement strategies to create a more sophisticated clinically and financially integrated contracting network.